Table with concealed extension leaf



April 2, 1940.

c. P. ROMEO I 2,195,682

TABLE WITH CONCEALED EXTENSION LEAF Filed April 4, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 2, 1940.

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Patented Apr. 2, 1940 2,195,682, I, TABLE WITH CONCEALEDIEXTENSION' LEAF I Charles Romeo, Rosindale, Mass. Application April 4, 193s, Serial No. 199,785 I 1 Claim. (open- 47) This invention relates to a table top in which two outside leaves in the same plane can be fitted together to form a short table top or in which an extension drop leaf in. the center can be brought up between them to extend the length of the table top.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide a table top of the above mentioned characteristics in which the drop leaf can be operated by the end leaves, either to raise it or lower it; to provide the central leaf with means forguiding it positively in its vertical motion; to provide operating means of a simpler character than heretofore and therefore at a lower expense; to

eliminate the ordinary gears, pinions, springs and Fig. 2 is a similar view with the leaves shown opened and illustrating the first step of extending the table; p i

Fig. 3 is a similar view with the drop leaf raised to the same plane as the end leaves and in condition for use, extended;

Fig. 4 is a similar View with the drop leaf dropped; I

Fig. 5 is a plan of the table in the position shown in Fig. 1 with parts broken away to show interior construction;

Fig. 6 is a plan of the table in the position shown in Fig. 2 with parts broken away;

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary plan of the top of the table in the condition shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 8--8 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the line 9-9 of Fig. 6, and

veniently be secured together more fully to make a stronger frame by two longitudinal pieces I! which are mortised to the inside surfaces of the end members In;

Of cours the byangle corner pieces l2. Two-of these angle pieces, at one end of thetable, are provided with vertical plane surfaces It and on the other end two vertical blocks M are provided to constitute vertical guides for two horizontal members 15 which are fixed to the under side of the drop leaf Hi. This guiding means assures that the drop leaf it will always move up and down in the same vertical path. I v

The end leaves IB are each provided underneath with two brackets I 9 securely fixed to the respective end leaves. These brackets are provided with longitudinal grooves 20 on theirinner sides and the longitudinal'pieces H are provided with longitudinal tongues 2| fitting in said-grooves so that, as the two leaves I8 slide back and forth, a guide will be provided thereby for holding them in horizontal position. Two brackets 19 are each provided with a stopv 22 inside the square for engaging the end boards l0 andpreventing the leaves l8 from moving out too far.

On each of the two members 19 at one end of the table is fixed a longitudinally extended spring hook 23, preferably made of a single piece of hard wood. This'spring hook is not intended to swing on the pivot screw 24 which holds it at one end but they can be adjusted about that screw when the table is' set up. Each of these hooks has a hook portion 26 and a longitudinal portion 21 extending beyond the hook and has a cam surface 28 for purposes to be described.

On each one ofthe longitudinal pieces l1, preferablyon the outer side thereof and at the center, is located a pivot stud 29 on which is freely mounted to turn an intermittently rotary'member 30. This rotary member preferably is in the form of a cam having a greater dimension longitudinally than laterally. It is provided in this case with four transverse, projecting, headed studs 3| providing a space for they location of the hook member. These spaces are located in vertical alignment with the hook members. The purpose of these features is tocause the two cams to rotate intermittently and at the proper time bring around end convex surfaces in engagement with the dropleaf and raise it to a height substantially the same asthat of the end leaves;

In operation, assuming the table to be in the position shown in Figs. 1, 5 and 8, itwill be four sides ID are also connected I leaf It to the height of the leaves l8.

noticed that the drop leaf is in a position of rest below the top or end leaves !8. In this condition the table is at its minimum length with the drop leaf concealed and out of the way. In order to lengthen the table, both end leaves l8 are pulled outwardly in the direction of the arrows in Fig. i, in opposite directions, as shown in Fig. 2. This operation results in moving the two hooks 23 from the position shown in Fig. 8 to that shown in Fig. 9.

It will be seen that during the first part of the motion of the left hand top leaf E8 the hook members 23 connected therewith will move a considerable distance to the left and will finally engage the headed pin shown' 'at' the lower right hand lower corner and turn itto the position shown in Fig. 9. Here that headed pin is at the lower left hand side and the cam is in vertical position, having rotated 90. These parts are so, proportioned that this raises one side of the drop The two members it"; fixed to the leaf it. are, of course, ina similar inclined-position and the leaf is supported by the two cams fill. The next operation is to move in the two end leaves it. The effect of this on the right hand side is immediately to connect dowels 32 on the leaf iii into dowel holes 33 in the right hand leaf 2% which 1n itself straightens the center leaf it into horizontal position. Here, it is lifted off the cam 3i! slightly and when the closing .is completed corresponding dowels on the left hand leaf i8 will be connected into dowel holes in that edge of the leaf it and it will be held up positively at both ends. This will bring the members #5 into horizontal position where they engage the under sides of the leaves 48. The ends of these members 95 have been guided all the time in the manner stated above. Now, the table is in the position'shown in Figs. 3, 7 and 19 although the weight of the middle leaf is not supported directly on the two cams.

With the parts in the position shown in Figs.

3, '7 and the arrows in Fig. 3 indicatewhat has to be accomplished in the first place to lower the center leaf It. The two end leaves it are separated a little horizontally to disengage 'the dowels. The actioirof separating them brings the two hooks 23 into contact with a pin in the same position as'bei'ore described, namely, on the lower right hand side of each cam. Thispulls the cam around 98, leaving the hooks in contact with the same pins but now on the left hand'side of each cam. This also leaves the corresponding pin on the right hand side of the cam supported by the extending position of the hook 23. This lets the central section l6 drop because, as will be seen, the two cams are in horizontal position at this time and do not support it. Now the rest of the motion can be completed by forcing inwardly the two end sections I8 until they meet at the center. This brings the two hooks considerably to the right of all the pins but the two pins on each horizontal cam are supported by the hook. ,We are now back in the position shown in Fig. 1 with the drop leaf lowered and. concealed by the top leaves.

constitutes an extremely simple and inexpensive construction as the parts can all be made of wood, except the fastening screws and the like,'and there is an entire absence of the usual racks, pinions, springs and levers heretofore used in this kind of a table top. A spring 34 is employed to prevent the cams from turningbackwards.

f-l'aving thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not Wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claim, but what I claim is:

In a table, the combination with a pair of end leaves movable toward and away from each other to constitute a table top in a contracted condition, an extension leaf adapted to be moved up between the end leaves when they are separated to complete the table top in an extended position, a longitudinal stringer under the table top connecting. the ends of the table, a freely rotatable cam pivoted in a vertical plane on the stringer below the extension leaf, said cam being longer than it is wide, and having rounded edges on its short ends, the longer sides being straight, aplurality of pins extending laterally from one of the cam, one end leaf having a downwardly projecting bracket, 2. horizontal spring arinprojecting therefrom under and beyond the cam, and terminating in a backwardly-facing hook, said hook being in a position to engage the pin on the cam nearest thereto, the resilience of the spring arm allowing the hook to slip under the cam pins in one direction of movement thereof and to rotate the cam in the other direction of movement,whereby the cam is always'rotated in 

